TradeSmart demat account
What the TradeSmart demat account holds, how it differs from the trading account, the recurring charges (AMC + DP), and how to open or transfer holdings to it.
At a glance
What the TradeSmart demat account does
The demat account is custody — the electronic locker that holds the shares you buy through TradeSmart. It is one of two accounts that retail Indian investing requires; the other is the trading account, which places the buy / sell orders. Both are usually opened together with TradeSmart in a single application.
The actual shares are held by CDSL or NSDL — not by TradeSmart. TradeSmart is the depository participant (DP) that connects you to the depository. If TradeSmart were to shut down, the shares stay safe with the depository; you would transfer them to a new broker. This separation of execution (broker) and custody (depository) is the core of SEBI’s investor-protection design.
TradeSmart demat account charges
The recurring demat-side charges on a TradeSmart account:
- Account opening — one-time, often ₹0 at discount brokers; up to ₹500 at some full-service brokers. Check the live TradeSmart charges page.
- Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC) — typically ₹0–₹500 / year. The largest recurring demat cost for buy-and-hold investors.
- DP charges — ₹18.5 per scrip per day on the sell-side of every equity delivery trade. Flat — same regardless of trade size.
- Statutory charges per trade — STT, exchange transaction charges, SEBI fee, stamp duty, GST. Identical across brokers; see the STT and DP charges explainers for details.
Opening a TradeSmart demat account
Online and paperless for resident Indians with Aadhaar. Keep PAN, Aadhaar (with mobile linked), a bank cancelled cheque or statement, a passport-size photo and a signature on white paper handy. The full e-KYC + IPV + e-sign flow takes 1–3 working days. See the TradeSmart account opening page for the step-by-step.
Transfer existing holdings to TradeSmart
If you already hold shares with another broker, you do not need to sell them to switch. Open a TradeSmart demat account first, then use CDSL EASIEST or NSDL e-DIS to move holdings off-market from your old broker’s demat to your TradeSmart demat. The depositories charge a small transfer fee; the shares appear in your new account in 1–2 working days. After the transfer, formally close the old account to stop its AMC.
Frequently asked
What people ask about the TradeSmart demat account.
A demat account at TradeSmart is the electronic locker that holds the shares, ETFs and bonds you buy through TradeSmart. TradeSmart acts as a depository participant — the institutional layer connecting you to the depository (CDSL or NSDL). The shares are held by the depository, not by TradeSmart.
TradeSmart's demat side has up to three recurring components: an Annual Maintenance Charge (AMC), DP charges (₹18.5 per scrip per day on sell-side delivery), and account opening (one-time, often free). Trading-side brokerage and statutory charges are separate. See the full schedule on the TradeSmart charges page.
TradeSmart is SEBI-registered and a depository participant of CDSL or NSDL. Your shares are held by the depository, not the broker — broker failure does not put your holdings at risk. SEBI mandates client-fund segregation, 2FA on every login and periodic reconciliation by the depositories. The main practical risk to manage is account-level fraud (phishing, OTP sharing), which is identical across brokers.
Open online with PAN, Aadhaar (mobile linked for OTP), a bank cancelled cheque or statement, a passport-size photo, and a signature on white paper. Aadhaar e-KYC + IPV video + e-sign takes 1–3 working days end-to-end. See the TradeSmart account opening page for the step-by-step flow.
Yes. Open a TradeSmart demat account first, then use the CDSL EASIEST / NSDL e-DIS facility to transfer holdings off-market from your old broker's demat to your TradeSmart demat. No need to sell anything. After the transfer, close the old account to stop its AMC.
The AMC continues to apply as long as the account is open. Extended inactivity leads to a dormant status (typically 12+ months without trades), which requires a re-KYC to revive. If you no longer need the account, formally close it to stop the AMC.